Former national player Yussuf Migoko strolled into the second round of the NCB Capital Markets Jamaica Open Tennis Championship 2012 after taking Brandon Azar to school in their opening round match at Liguanea Club, New Kingston, yesterday.

Migoko won in straight sets, 6-0, 6-0, in a match that lasted 43 minutes.

Joining Migoko in the second round are defending champion Hayden Lewis, Antigua and Barbuda's Carlton Bedminster and Roshane Allen.

Lewis, who is from Barbados, defeated Stefan Wilson 6-0, 6-0; Bedminster defeated Ryan Simms 6-1, 7-5 in a one-hour-and-15- minute duel; while Allen received a walkover after Macoy Malcolm failed to show for their match.

At press time five other matches were yet to be contested, including the game between Jamaica's top-ranked player Damion Johnson, and Alan McNab.

"He is one of my little students from Hillel Academy, so I knew his game, knew what he was going to try and because I am his coach, I knew how to counter it," Migoko told The Gleaner.

Challenges ahead

The 33-year-old Migoko is not fooling himself, however, as he knows much tougher challenges are ahead, as the tournament, which is into its second year, has attracted five world-ranked players, including top seed Tim Smyczek, who is 130 in the ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) rankings.

"It gets a whole lot tougher as a lot of Davis Cup players are here and ex-Davis Cup players, so right after this, I play the winner of Brandon Burke and Orick Angus match," Migoko expressed.

"Brandon (Burke) should come through that pretty easy, so I will play him in the second round and we are both ex-Davis Cup players, so that is going to be another big one. The winner of our match goes on to play the number one seed, Tim (Smyczek)."

Getting ready

Thirteen-year-old Azar, who was playing in a senior tournament for the first time, is looking to make use of the experience and return stronger next time around.

"This game showed me how the competition is going to be and I will be ready for it in a couple of years," Azar said. "He was mostly just better than me, but if I could just swing fluently through my backhand better it would have helped. I am going to try and come back next year, if not, I will eventually come back."

Action on today's second day is slated to serve off at 5 p.m. and will see five of the seeded players on show. Top seed Smyczek will open against the winner of the match between Vaughn Wilson and Julius Biggs at 7:30 p.m.